. . . to our WONDERFUL READERS!
Just click away on the rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of 24 prizes as our way of saying thanks to the readers that make what we do all worth while!
Don't Be a Stranger!
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sneak Peek Sunday from Author to AUTHOR: Sydney Logan
Coming November 29
Exclusively on Amazon Kindle
It’s Christmas Eve, and Justin Banks is on the hunt for a last-minute gift for his wife, Megan. With the help of a homeless man and the beat of a drum, Justin stumbles upon the one thing Megan has always wanted. The one thing money can’t buy.
It's amazing what we can hear if we just take a moment and really listen.
There’s something really beautiful about my wife, and it is a quality that a lot of people never have the chance to witness. There is a certain look in her eyes and a particular expression on her face that lets you know she's made a decision, and you’re an idiot if you even try to stand in her way. I have seen her work her magic on stubborn clients, deadbeat dads, and arrogant attorneys.
This kid doesn't stand a chance.
Megan drops to her knees in front of the little boy, right there on the dirty ground.
“Luke, I just made some homemade chili. Do you like chili?”
He nods quickly.
“I also made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Justin loves them, and I always make a bunch extra. Do you like peanut butter and jelly?”
Luke licks his lips, and my heart breaks.
“Why don't you come home with us? You can help Justin eat his sandwiches, and later, we'll try to find your parents.”
I can see the indecision on his little face. He doesn’t want to say no. That’s another incredible thing about my wife. Telling her no is virtually impossible.
“My mom told me to stay here.”
“But it's so cold, Luke,” Megan murmurs, her voice breaking with emotion.
“I'll be okay.”
Megan lowers her head, and for just a second, I worry that even my amazing wife has met her match. But then I hear her quiet sniffles, and Luke's face falls when he realizes she’s crying.
He steps closer to her. “Why are you crying, Megan?”
She lifts her head and gazes into the little boy's eyes. “Because I'm going to worry about you tonight. I'm afraid you'll be hungry and cold.”
I hold my breath as he reaches for her, pressing his dirty little hand against her face. Megan doesn’t even flinch.
“I'll go home with you, Megan. Please don't cry.” Luke then looks up at me. “Can I bring my drum?”
“Of course you can.”
Megan sighs with relief and rises to her feet.
With a smile as bright as the stars, the little boy takes my wife's hand. She takes mine, and the three of us walk out of the cold alleyway.
Friday, November 22, 2013
COVER REVEAL: The Northern Gate by J.C. Clarke
Today we have a cover reveal for J.C. Clarke's debut release:
The Northern Gate
The Northern Gate
This is book one of The Edelyn Legacy.
Title: The Northern Gate
Author: J.C. Clarke
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Release Date: December 06, 2013
Summary:
According to the Bible, God created the world in seven days, but what if the beginning happened before Humankind documented it for posterity?
Humans didn’t see everything clearly, because they didn’t understand. They turned away in fear, forgot the beings that had come to Earth and, over time, the Seraphim became nothing but a legend, a bedtime story. Corruption and greed, bred from hatred and evil, spread across the face of the earth as Humans evolved and developed. It was in this filth, and amongst the seven deadly sins, that Tabitha Morgan was born and kept alive, hidden in plain sight from the darkness.
For seventeen years, Tabitha thrived under her grandmother’s guardianship, living a normal life and not knowing the truth about her heritage or the roots from which she came.
That all changes the day a handsome stranger named Nathan walks into her life. Will the ancient secrets he holds be enough to earn her trust? Is it the Light, or does Darkness await them beyond The Northern Gate?
Add it to Goodreads HERE.
And now for the cover reveal . . .
designed by: J.C. Clarke
About the Author:
J.C. Clarke lives in the heart of the New Forest in England with her husband and four children. Never a dull moment, her full house provides no shortage of inspiration which fuels her writing. She loves reading and writing a variety of genres in addition to dabbling with graphic art to create book covers, swag and more.
Author Blog I Legacy Blog
Twitter I Facebook
Thursday, November 21, 2013
COVER REVEAL: Marking Her by Elena M. Reyes
Title: Marking Her #1 (Marked Series)
Author: Elena M. Reyes
Genre: Erotica/ Contemporary Romance
Expected Release Date: December 17, 2013
GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM!
GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM!
Synopsis:
Talan wants to mark Maya—with more than his ink. The owner of a prominent tattoo shop, he’s used to being hit on by easy women. Though “easy” is not a word associated with Maya when she comes in to support her friend. Flirtation ensues, but what will it take to break the painted man.
Author Bio:
Elena M. Reyes was born and raised in Miami Florida. She is the epitome of a Floridian and if she could live in her beloved flip-flops, she would.
As a small child, she was always intrigued with all forms of art—whether it was dancing to island rhythms, or painting with any medium she could get her hands on. Her first taste of writing came to her during her fifth grade year when her class was prompted to participate in the D. A. R. E. Program and write an essay on what they’d learned.
Her passion for reading over the years has amassed her with hours of pleasure. It wasn't until she stumbled upon fanfiction that her thirst to write overtook her world. She now resides in Central Florida with her husband and son, spending all her down time letting her creativity flow and letting her characters grow.
{AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS}
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
COVER REVEAL: Melting the Snow anthology from Renaissance Romance Publishing
Two stories for the holidays . . .
Holiday Cure for the Cursed
and
Frozen Moments
Holiday Cure for the Cursed Summary:
Daniel Digby is cursed by his good looks. After years of sexual harassment, he’s convinced wearing a wedding ring is the answer to fending off unwanted attention.
CiCi Newport is cursed by her family’s money. When men look her way, all they see are dollar signs. After two years, her “no dating” rule is still in place.
After a chance meeting, they’re entwined for the holidays. What starts as attraction might just be the holiday cure they’re looking for.
Lindsey Gray’s Biography and Links:
Lindsey Gray dreamed of several different careers as a child. On the short list were doctor, chef, and actress. None held her attention like putting pen to paper and creating her own world through words. Since 2010, she has published three novels and one short story with The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House. In 2013, she went on her first self-publishing adventure and produced her novella, "Fireworks".
A mid-west native, Lindsey enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, rooting for the Green Bay Packers, reading whatever she can get her hands on, and making life interesting at every turn.
Link List:
Frozen Moments Summary:
The Sentinels live in our future and are the Keepers of Time. Sentinels have the responsibility of guarding the once gifted and proclaimed golden-children of the greatest government’s scientific communities. With the collapse of the world, they now hide and try to correct the downfall that nearly led to the end of life.
A team of technically-altered humans race through frozen landscapes to save those they can and try to correct the flawed outcomes that threaten to create the catastrophic future. They’re faster, stronger, and more agile than those living in the time period. These unknown heroes live on low income jobs while they report to Melanie Shepherd, who freezes time to assist them in their endeavors.
Is an event ever too big for them to stop?
Michele Richards Biography and Links:
BIOGRAPHY
Michele Richard is an author and the CEO of Renaissance Romance. Michele wrote the “Mocked by” series including Mocked by Destiny and the Mocked by Faith trilogy. She writes what comes from the heart. Raised in Maryland, Michele currently resides in the Boston area. When Michele is between books, her days are filled with family and friends. Her greatest passions are traveling and learning new languages. She is currently learning French, Spanish and ASL, and one day hopes to be fluent in them. She has never met a language she didn’t like.
In 2012, Michele opened Renaissance Romance Publishing with her partners, Lisa Bilbrey and Laura Braley. Together, the three run the day to day workings of a small press.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Mocked by” series:
Mocked by Destiny
Mocked by Faith
Mocked by Faith ~ Healing the Faith
Mocked by Faith ~ Affirming the Faith
Parasouls: Divine Intervention
Anthologies:
Changes of the Heart (Life is More Than Candy Hearts)
10 Days to Love (Harvest Treats)
The Roommates (Sugarplum Dreams)
Novellas:
10 Days to Love
Changes of the Heart
The Roommates
Where to Find Michele:
Purchase Michele’s books on:
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Saving Georgia by Kristin Flynn BLOG TOUR
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: Oct 29, 2013
Pages: 352 pgs Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Saving Georgia
By Kristin Flynn
Synopsis:
Even for a normal girl, senior year of high school sucks; but for a girl who has mental and emotional
issues the stress is just torture. That’s what it’s like for Georgia, who was orphaned at a young age and
tortured beyond belief. She finally obtains a peace in her life, but then finds herself in the middle of a
love triangle between a cowboy (who’s her best friend) and the popular quarterback.
Prom and graduation are just around the corner. Georgia must decide who she wants to pursue a
relationship with but cannot handle the pressure. Senior year gets a little chaotic, and just when Georgia
thinks she has found a place safe enough to grow emotionally, things turn to disaster. This year turns out
to be more than anyone anticipated and she thinks everything is ok, but is it?
Excerpt:
“Like, if you kill someone or something” I ask.
“Anything, anything at all” Shane continues. “From small things to big things, is there anything you wouldn't forgive me for?"
“Hurting people is kind of a big thing for me.” I confess.
“Why?” I ask, wondering what is this guy up to. Is he going to make Jason or Harper disappear? Is he
going to paint the water tower or something?
“I want to make sure you forgive me for what I am about to do.” He says, closing his eyes.
Oh this must be big! Oh dear, what is going to happen. My body starts to shake, freaking out that he is
going to get hurt or something it going to tear him apart from me.
“What…. What are you about to…” and before I could finish my question, Shane’s hand is holding the
back of my head, and his lips are on mine, pushing against my open l mouth. Butterflies fill my stomach
and I feel a pull in the deepest part of my belly. I’m so taken aback and surprised I can’t move, then
suddenly I am kissing him back. My hands pulling his gorgeous brown hair, my legs wrapping tighter
around his waist, and my mouth is hungrily searching for his. My skin is a million sensations; cold from
the water, and slightly burned, but tantalized by the sensation of Shane touching me. My chest rises
and falls with such bravado in my heady need for affection. I’m beguiled in this transaction of kisses
and tongues. He lifts me from my bottom, wades out the water and lays me down on a towel. The beach
is empty for all but us, and I feel the weight of my best friend on top of me. He puts his knees between
mine, and moves my hair from my face; looking down at me he smiles and kisses me ever so gently.
Book Links
Author Info
So being a writer you’d think I’d come up with some interesting story about myself. Funny lines, heart
stopping stories… wrong. All wrong. Here’s the basics: I was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. I
currently reside in Smithfield, NC with my amazing husband that I have been with for 7 years. We have
three wonderful children who like to keep us busy! I love to cook and bake, but it can be a challenge
to find something everyone likes! Someone is always complaining and refusing to eat what I slaved
over a hot stove for. That is part of the reason I should invest in wine. I drink it. A lot. I started writing
when I was VERY young. Pretty much since I could put pen to paper stories started to come! I was first
published when I was 13. Cool right? No, it wasn’t smut. Actually, it was poetry. I have 5 sisters and one
brother. I am very proud of my family! Fun stuff to know: I love Moscato. I don’t have a favorite color,
although my husband might disagree with me on that one. I talk in movie quotes, and it gets annoying at
times. I have a severe addiction to Ginger Ale of all things. Without enough sleep, my family avoids me
because I revert back to a toddler. I love to smile and laugh, often at my husband’s expense. He does the
same thing to me, it’s all fair game. I HATE talking on the phone. But it is a necessary evil. I don’t know
how to handle people when they are crying. It gets awkward and I don’t know what to do. Please don’t
cry in front of me. I love deeply, and I’m a fiercely loyal friend. I won’t and don’t judge people; I’ll be
friends with anyone. I’m a die-hard Red Sox fan- my best friend is a Yankee’s fan. Case in point. Bored
yet? OK. Let’s wrap this up. Walking Dead, Son’s of Anarchy and book boyfriends. Oh and Luke Bryan –
Oh! And I can't cook a baked potato to save my life. Seriously, it's a lost cause.
Kristin is also looking for Street Team members.
If you would like to join Please PM her Author Page. Thank you!
Author Links
GIVEAWAY on Facebook
Sunday, November 17, 2013
REVIEW: Fall Fires m/m anthology from Renaissance Romance Publishing
Fall Fires by N.L. Leeks, Jude Ouvrard, K.L. Platt, M.C. Rayne, C.W. Stephens, and N.WoodMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
ANTHOLOGY RATING: 3.75 (rounding down to 3 because not all of the stories were ready for publication, and I don't approve of adding clearly MA material into a collection with YA material. IMHO, two collections would've been better.)
Winter’s Love by N.L. Leeks
Rating: 3
This was an ‘okay’ read. It has the expected good looking main characters and is a quick and easy to read love story. What held me back from really getting into this and loving it was that the story wasn’t as well developed as it could have been. The pacing wasn’t consistent throughout, starting off very sluggish – almost abusing the ‘show, don’t tell’ premise – to a sudden, fast paced ending.
Winter’s Love is good effort at a first published attempt. I would’ve liked to have seen Jared a little less bi-polar in his emotions which often bordered on hysterical anger. Some of the scenarios seemed a bit far-fetched and ‘staged’ to create angst and drama within the story. Less of the robotic “I” starts to sentences, along with more restraint on taking down the fourth wall could have also made this story shine.
I am giving kudos to Leeks for the twist at the end and the message at the heart of her story which she is trying to convey: love, in any form, should not be discriminated against.
Wonderland by Jude Ouvrard
Rating: 5
Where to begin? This is actually the first offering of Ouvrard’s that I’ve gotten the chance to read, and I have to say, if her style carries over to future projects, I’ll be reading more of Ms. Jude.
Wonderland is a novella, so it’s short, but the amount of emotion packed into this little jewel is almost mind blowing. With just a few words, the reader gets to watch a relationship bloom and flourish, despite being under the eye of the grim reaper. The beauty of this tale, is that the relationship comes not from your stereotypical ‘lust at first sight’ scenario, but because of who the main characters are in their hearts. In fact, there’s very little ‘physical’ to this tale, yet the reader is not left wanting for anything.
I’m at a loss of how to encourage you to give this story a chance without spoilers. Simply put, it is heartbreakingly beautiful and you would be doing yourself a disservice to skip over it.
If This is Wrong by K.L. Platt
Rating: 2
This novella follows two main characters from when they meet as children, on through to adulthood. In that time, they become friends and eventually more while facing the trials and tribulations of adolescence. Given that my rating on this one is a little harsher than I what normally give, I want to start off by emphasizing the sheer potential of this story. I love the premise, just wish the execution had been better.
I’m a nit-picky reader; it comes from the editor side of me that is always reading with an eye to catch errors. I know this and acknowledge it; I even try to put that side of me to the backburner when reading for pleasure, however, the ARC I was given in exchange for an honest review left me hoping that a much cleaner, more polished version of this story made it to print. I don’t want to harp on the negative, but the following are the issues I had with this particular piece:
• Point of view and tense slips
• Overuse of character’s FULL names; once is enough, yet it seemed like the characters were using full names (including middle) at least once a chapter. There is such thing as too much.
• Uncertain as to the setting. We are told the story takes place in the small town of Buckland Falls; I have no idea if this is a real or made up place. What I do know, is that for the majority of the story, it has an American feel, yet there are several instances of British spellings and terminology (i.e. ‘reception’ for attendance office, ‘time table’ for class schedule, ‘Form teacher’ – I think for what we know as English teachers, and the mention of tenth graders still having recess?) that tripped up my reading flow.
• The pacing of the story felt scattered to me; it was hard to keep up, and there were some major milestones in the boys’ lives that I seemed to miss. I was reading along, and suddenly time-jumped forward to a whole new dynamic. Perhaps it was just me?
• And lastly, while it may be a minor thing, it just threw me for a loop. The story closes with an exchange of endearments in Italian. Not once in the whole story is the reader ever given any reason to understand why the story would close that way, or what the importance would be. The characters aren’t from Italy, there was no mention of a fondness for all things Italian, the boys didn’t take the language in school, they weren’t raised by an Italian nanny . . . I’m just at a loss for why the foreign language was used.
Again, the idea behind the story is fantastic. I would love to see Platt take this one back to the ‘drawing board’ and flesh it out, polish it up, and really make it shine.
Our Walk to Remember by M.C. Rayne
Rating: 5
I cried, need I say more?
I do? Well, allow me to elaborate. This is not the first time I’ve read this story; but Rayne has done such an amazing job expanding the tale since its humble beginnings as a fanfic oneshot, that it felt like the first time.
Tasteful and classy, this novella has two active main characters: a dad and his daughter, taking a very important walk. Be prepared to meet a cast of characters who will quickly pull you in, however, as the reason for the walk is revealed. Rayne balances the fine line of telling a story from two time frames, past and present, through the use of a series of ‘flashbacks.’ Don’t worry, you won’t get whiplash—the transitions are smooth and easy to follow.
I want to give a big round of applause to Rayne for avoiding the typical ‘cliché’ techniques that I’ve found in a lot of m/m romance. Not to downplay how horrific things like gay bashing and hate crimes are, but it was nice to read a story that didn’t have one of these elements thrown in just for angst sake. He was able to address real issues without losing the flow or feel of the story.
Our Walk to Remember is an outstanding debut piece, and one that will ensure readers remember M.C. Rayne for some time to come. Keep an eye on this up and coming author.
Love, Unexpected by C.W. Stephens
Rating: 4
Moving on to the fifth novella of the Fall Fires anthology...
So far this is the sweetest story in the collection (I still have one more to read). For a debut project, I applaud Stephens on an easy, light-hearted read with a well-developed storyline start to finish, even if it was a simple premise.
The dialogue was great and the author was able to handle multi-character scenes like a pro. There was never any confusion as to who 'had the mic' so to speak, despite there being a lot of moving bodies (the setting for this story is a weekend wedding—lots of guests and wedding party members to juggle!) Stephens was able to smoothly shift between scenes, taking the reader along.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the sweet innocence in the developing relationship between Jon and Evan. They're guarded and proceeding with caution, yet unable to fight the temptation. A great example of this:
"He stepped back when I rose from the chair, his eyes never leaving mine. There was that look again; the same look he had when we parted at the elevator last night. When I started walking towards the restaurant, he was right by my side, our hands brushing against each other before his pinky reached out and hooked with mine. A shy smile bloomed across my face when I glanced over at him, his eyes shifting from mine to my lips while he licked his own."
A word of warning... Stephens is not a fade-to-black girl, so when the temptation becomes too much for Jon and Evan, she delivers! It's a little bit of a surprise when reading the full anthology, as none of the stories to this point got quite this graphic.
All in all a sweet tale which shows the promising future of Stephens.
Woodshed Wishes by N. Wood
Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 for quality of writing
Woodshed Wishes is the sixth and final story in the Fall Fires collection. A small warning: like the one preceding it, Love, Unexpected, this tale is graphic and clearly meant for an adult audience. This is the third book of Wood’s I’ve had the pleasure of reading, so I was braced for a twist of some sort, and she delivers.
The writing style is almost wispy; filled with extensive detail, the story unfolds a little at a time. Unfortunately, for me, it was a little too slow this time around. While the writing is well-done, the pace is languid. However, when you get to the twist, it becomes clear why Woods chose to write her story this way. Overall, the plotline just lacked some oomph.
This novella introduces us to Ben, a reclusive gay romance author, who lives in the woods away from the distractions of city life. He is shy, not overly strong, and has a secret . . . fantasy. One that involves erotic spanking. I will insert here that the intimate scenes are penned with care, and class.
Overall, my initial reaction to Woodshed Wishes is a 3.5, but only because the storyline just didn’t grab me and reel me in. For quality of writing, I’m rounding to a 4. And if you’re in the mood for a fast read, with some hot boy-loving, you may find your wishes coming true with Wood’s latest offering.
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)